Tire-chain tightener and lock



March 2 1926. 1,575,545

. w. 0. COLBURN TIRE CHAIN TIGHTENER AND LOCK File'dJune 8. 19.25-

TEE-TL- Patented Mar. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER 0. consumer, or BANGOR, MAINE.

TIRE-CHAIN TIGHTENER AND LOCK.

Application filed June 8, 1925. Serial ITO. 35,783.

'llighteners and Locks; and I do declare the following to be a, full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable'othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for connecting the endsof chains, and the primary intent, is to utilize the de vice forconnecting the usual side chains of anti-skid chain structures, 1commonly used on motor vehicles.

It is the object of the invention to pro: vide a simple and inexpensiveconstruction, yet one which will be very etlicient, easy to operate, andembodies unique means for looking a chain tightening lever in operativeposition.

Vith the foregoing in View, the invention resides in the novel subjectmatter hereinafter described and claimed, the description beingsupplemented by the accompanying drawing.

Figures 1, 2 and 3 are side elevations showing ditl'erent positions ofparts from the time the fastener is initially engaged with the free endof the chain, to the time when said fastener reaches its lockedposition.

Figure 4.- is an edge view.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are perspective views of the three main parts of thedevice, hereinatter described. 1

The numeral 1 on the drawing designates an elongated metal plate havinga link receiving notch 2 in one edge, said notch being disposed near oneend oi. said plate. The opposite end oi this plate may well be widenedas indicated at 3, although this is not absolutely essential. Fulcrumedat one of its ends, to the first named end of the plate 1, is alink-engaging chain-tightening lever 4, the fulcrum being indicated at5, the inner end of said lever being preferably formed in one edge witha linki'eceiving notch 6 for registration with the notch 2, when thelever is swung to a position atone side of the plate 1,'as shown forinstance in Figs. 2 and 3. The outer edge of said lever remote from thenotch 6, saidl'inger serving to, facilitate insertion ot the leverthrough one of the links 8 of the chain.

Pivoted between its ends at 9, to the widened end 3 of the plate 1, is alever-locking member 10 which preferably comprises a relativelyulongside plate 11 andacomparatively short side plate 12, the two platesbeing suitably joined. to each other at the outer end of the member 10.The two ends of these plates are connected with one of the end llnks 13o f the chain. The inner end of the relatively long plate 11, is provided with an L-shaped finger '14, one portion of which is adapted toabut the outer edge of the lever 4:, when the latter is in operativeposition, while the remaining por-, tion of said fingers then liesagainst the outer side of said lever to hold the latter against sidewisemovement away from the plate 1.

In applying the device, the lever 4 is in serted through the link v8,and while the locking member 10 is held substantially in the position ofFig. 1, said lever is swung inwardly to the position of Fig.2, in whichsuch details are preferably followed. "How ever, within the scope of theinvention as claimed. modifications may be made.

I claim:

1' A chain tightener and lock comprising an elongated plate, alink-engaging chaintightening lever tulcrumed to one end of said plate,said lever being adapted for inward movement to a positionlongitudinally of the plate, means for limiting the inward swinging ofsaid lever, and a lever-locking member. pivoted between its ends to theend of the plate remote from the lever fulcrum, the outer end of saidlever-locking mem- The locking member 10 her being adapted :forconnection with one end of the tire chain While the lnner end of saidlever-locking member is adapted to abut said lever and hold it againstoutward swinging.

2. A chain tightener and lock comprising an elongated plate having alinlereceiving notch in one edge near one end, a link-engagingehainetightening lever 'fnlcrumed at one end :to said end of the plateand having a link-receiving notch in one edge to register \vith thefirst named notch when the lever is inwardly swung to a position at oneside of the plate, the other edge of said leverheing provided .at thefree-end of the latter with a projecting linger, means forlimitingflthe. inward swinging of the lever, and a lever-locking platepivoted between its ends to the endot the first named plate remote fromthe lever fulcrum, the outer vend of said lever-locking platebeingadapted for connection with'ione'end of a chain, tlie inner endof-said lever-locking plate being provided -With-an L -shaped finger toengage the lever and hold it both againstoutward swinging and againstsidewvise movement comprising an elongated plate, a link-env gagingchain-tightening lever fnlcrumed at one end o-fsaid plate, said platehaving a link-receiving notch in one edge near the fulcrum point of saidlever, said lever being adapted for inward movement to a positionlongitudinally of the plate and having a link-receiving notchregistrable With the notch in ,said plate, a projecting finger at thefree end of said lever, a stop finger on the plate to 'liin'it' theinward swing of said lever, and a lever-locking plate iiulcrumed betweenits ends to the end of said plate irei'nol'e from the lever fulcrum and.adapted for connection to one end of a chain, and

means on the leverlocking plate for holding the lever n engagement withsaid stop n s r In test mony Whereo I have hereunto jafi'igedm'ysignature.

WVALTER O. COLBURN.

